h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Short Story: Pharmakeia - A3855233
Author: BadZen - U101564

Here's a story I wrote a while ago...

Like it!

Nice, coherent build up with some good surprises.

You could camouflage the plot a bit more if you wanted - the story is strong enough that even while remaining within the confines of a short story, you could add more characterisation - perhaps especially on the old woman.



sprout

This is class.

sprout's right. If there's an area that could be tightened up, it's probably the characterisation.

What are you looking for here? Do you want to discuss it or dissect it?

Pin (off to look for more)

Thanks to both of you

Don't really want anything, just wondering if anyone would pick any major flaws before I submit it to the fiction page...

Hi BadZen,
There is one thing that intrigues me.
Is there any particular reason why you chose the title 'Pharmakeia' for your piece?
Brilliant as it is, I doubt whether pharmacology or drugs play any part in producing the matamorphosis or transfiguration of the murderer.
You steer us in the direction of ancient Grecian folklore and the incantations of the soothsayers; or Greek legend and the black arts.
Greek witches, if you like! Your old lady's image is that of a troubled old woman who has called on what was to her a 'lost art' or dormant faculty that she has, by force of great age personality and hate, managed to re-conjour up, even to her own surprise. She called upon the gods of old.

Ron

Pharmakeia is the Greek word from which our English words "pharmacy", "pharmaceutical" etc are derived.

It means/meant both the use of drugs and poisons etc, usually in "witchcraft", but also meant sorcery or witchcraft itself...hence the name of the story

Here's an interesting link: http://www.theoi.com/Pharmakeia.html

A well told and original tale.

Thanks for posting it .

Thanks (by the way!)

Greetings Badzen . Here to let you know that Pharmakeia caught the eye of two UGly miners, has consequently been picked for the <./>underguide</.> and, also consequently, to offer much in celebration.

An UnderGuide Gem Polisher will be in touch (if they haven't beaten me to it) for any final revisions or tweakings you might want or they might suggest, before creating a UG copy of the entry to be featured on h2g2's Front Page shortly.

One thing they will need to do, or that between you you'll need to do, is find alternatives to the starred out words that the profanity filter won't get into a stress over.

Congrats again, and thank you for a great story .
UG Eds

Thanks!